Personalities
New Executive Director for Cotton Council International
Bruce Atherley has been named executive director of CCI Cotton Council International, effective October 1, 2015
Atherley most recently served as Vice President, Global Marketing for KAO, Inc. KAO is a global manufacturer of personal care and household products based in Tokyo.
Previously, Bruce worked with the Williams Wrigley Jr Company, serving as Wrigley’s Vice President of North American Confections Marketing and President & General Manager of Wrigley Canada. Bruce also held the position of Vice President of Retail Marketing for the H.J. Heinz Company. Bruce’s marketing career has established a track record of introducing brands and products into global markets in Asia, Latin America and Europe.
“While new to the cotton industry, Bruce brings an outstanding record of success in global marketing and management,” NCC President/CEO Gary Adams said. “His marketing career has established a track record of introducing brands and products into global markets.”
CCI is the export promotions arm of the Memphis-based NCC National Cotton Council of America (NCC). Headquartered in Washington, DC, and with a reach extending to more than 50 countries through 17 offices worldwide, CCI uses trade services and consumer promotion activities to increase exports of U.S. cotton fibre, manufactured cotton goods, cottonseed and their products in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Central and South America.
Haute Hippie CEO Jesse Cole Joins Naked Board of Directors
Naked Brand Group Inc. an innovative inner fashion and lifestyle brand, is pleased to announce that apparel industry leader Jesse Cole has joined the Naked Board of Directors. Jesse Cole is an accomplished financier and CEO of popular women’s contemporary brand Haute Hippie. Started by Trish Wescoat Pound, Haute Hippie offers an eclectic, yet luxuriously chic collection of rock ‘n’ roll and bohemian fashion sold globally with over 350 points of distribution in the US including Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue
“We’re thrilled to have Jesse Cole join Naked’s Board of Directors. He has been instrumental in building Haute Hippie into one of the most dynamic contemporary women’s fashion brands and we are confident his experience, creativity and network of relationships will be of great value to the Naked brand,” said Carole Hochman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Creative Officer and Chairwoman of Naked.
Prior to joining Haute Hippie as CEO in 2012, Cole was Founder and Chief Operator of Schonfeld IBS, a financial services company. Schonfeld IBS grew into a multi-million dollar business. Cole then joined Merlin Institutional where he developed the institutional research sales and trading division as a senior partner. Cole also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House.
“I have been following Naked since Carole Hochman joined the brand last year,” said Cole. “Carole and Founder Joel Primus have created incredible products and a powerful brand that serves an immediate need in the market today for both men and women. With their leadership, product and momentum, I believe Naked is now positioned to grow to become an industry leader. I am looking forward to bringing my expertise in fundraising, brand strategy and overall industry experience to the team.”
Jesse Cole takes the place of Chris Heyn, who will remain on Naked’s Advisory Board.
Naked was founded on one basic desire, to create a new standard for how products worn close to the skin fit, feel and function. Naked has a strong and growing retail footprint for its innovative and luxurious men’s innerwear products in some of the best online and department stores in North America including Nordstrom, Hudson Bay, Holt Renfrew, Amazon.com, BareNecessities.com and many more. In 2014, renowned designer and sleepwear pioneer Carole Hochman joined Naked as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Creative Officer and Chairwoman with the goal of growing Naked into a global lifestyle brand. In June 2015, Naked announced a strategic partnership with NBA Miami HEAT star Dwyane Wade. The 3-time NBA Champion, 11-time All Star and Olympic Gold Medalist joined the company’s Advisory Board and will serve as Creative Director for a signature collection of men’s innerwear launching 2016. Naked is now headquartered in New York City and plans to expand into other apparel and product categories that can exemplify the mission of the brand, such as active wear, swimwear, sportswear and more.
New EOG President, Vice President and Board members
During the recent Summer Meeting of the European Outdoor Group made some changes to the EOG Board. Rolf Schmid and Bernd Kullmann stepped down as President and Vice President respectively, and from the Board. Rolf and Bernd had been planning to move aside early next year, but had made faster progress than expected in with their key goals for their terms in office. Everyone at the association is very grateful for the work that both have done on behalf of the outdoor industry.
Following their departure, members at our Summer Meeting elected John Jansen of Keen Europe as the new President of the EOG and Jean-Marc Pambet of Salomon was appointed Vice President. We also elected three new members of the Board: Rainer Angstl of Sport Schuster, the first EOG retail member to be elected; Antje von Dewitz of Vaude; and Stefan Merkt of the Mammut Group.
Caroline Forster elected new textile member of the Board Committee of Swiss econmiesuisse "Caroline Forster is a rising star in the Swiss economy")
At a Board Meeting of economiesuisse, the umbrella organisation of Swiss economic institutions on September 3, 2015 elected Caroline Forster, CEO of Inter-Spitzen AG in St. Gall (CH) and member of the Management, as well as Board Member of the Forster Rohner Group, was elected as new textile member of the Board Committee. Her election means that the interests of the Swiss textile and clothing industry is secured in the umbrella organisation and on top level. Swiss Textiles offers congratulations to Caroline Forster and wishes her great success in her new responsibilities.
In the framework of the “Day of the Economy” organised by economiesuisse in Lucerne a rotation within the representatives of the textile and clothing took place at the Board Committee. The up to now representative in the Board Committee, Christoph Tobler, CEO of Sefar, Heiden (CH) has moved up to the Board. His place at the Board Committee will be taken over by Caroline Forster. She has been previously active on the Board. Further active member of the board remains Silvan Wildhaber, CEO of Filtex AG in St. Gall (CH).
Natalie Massenet leaves Net-a-Porter ahead of merger with Yoox
The founder and executive chairman of Net-a-Porter has abruptly resigned, leaving the high-end fashion site ahead of its pending merger with Italian e-commerce group Yoox SpA.
Natalie Massenet, who was slated to be chairman and oversee editorial content of the combined company, Yoox Net-a-Porter Group, resigned on Wednesday and won’t be a member of the new board, said Yoox in a news release.
Following the completion of the merger with Yoox Group is the right time for me to move on to explore new ideas and opportunities,” said Ms. Massenet in a statement published online. “The business I started in 2000 could not be in better shape today.”
A former journalist, Massenet founded Net-a-Porter in 2000. Owner Cie Financière Richemont SA in March agreed to merge the site with Yoox, in a deal that would create a company that will have yearly revenue of more than USD 1.4 billion.
Massenet, a Los Angeles native, worked as a model in Japan before starting her career as a journalist at Women’s Wear Daily and Tatler. Since she set up Net-a-Porter, the website has expanded to include The Outnet.com, a fashion outlet, and MrPorter.Com, one of the first global online sites for menswear.
The company now employs 2,500 people in London, New York, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
In January 2013, Ms. Massenet was named chairman of the British Fashion Council, a body set up to promote British fashion. She was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to the fashion industry in 2009.
Massenet has resigned from Net-a-Porter with over GBP100 million USD 153 million) after selling shares in the company, according to media reports.
In her statement, she indicated that she could start something else. “As for my own future, my entrepreneurial drive is as strong today as it always has been, and my passion for innovation will continue to be my greatest guide in business,” she said.
Veteran luxury analyst Luca Solca, who works at Exane BNP Paribas, noted Massenet’s resignation comes as no surprise. “She wasn’t particularly keen on the merger with Yoox which is why it didn’t happen earlier,” he said, adding that she was unhappy with the valuation given to Net-a-Porter and “may have had qualms about Yoox being a very different business, much more of a company run by engineers.”
Solca also said Massenet wasn’t on the conference call (detailing the merger) with Yoox Chief Executive Federico Marchetti, and that her role in the new company was a diminished one with Marchetti clearly holding the reins. “The two of them are of a very different DNA,” said Solca.
Massenet couldn’t immediately be located for a response to Solca’s comments. Yoox didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.